Suicide Squad: Could the Next Film Give DC’s Villains Another Shot in AAA Gaming?

Suicide Squad

The world of comic book-themed video games is a fairly busy one at the moment, with speculation rising that a new Batman game is on the way and Square Enix preparing to launch a take on Marvel’s Avengers later this year.

However, while anticipation is clearly building about what is in the pipeline, there have also been plenty of reports recently about the ones that got away – including suggestions that a Suicide Squad title was once a very real possibility.

Postponed plans

Several sites including PSU.com have in recent weeks reported on alleged leaks from Warner Bros which relate to apparently canceled plans for both a Superman game and a title based on Suicide Squad.

Imagery including concept art related to Harley Quinn has been revealed and it is understood the work relates to a game that was originally intended for launch around the time that Suicide Squad hit theaters. However, it is understood the game was then shelved at the end of 2016.

Of course, the movie was linked to proved to be fairly divisive, although Box Office Mojo states that it made more than $746 million worldwide and did spawn a sequel of sorts with this year’s rather ambitiously-titled Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn. However, with a new movie based on Suicide Squad on the horizon, could this latest take on DC’s notorious villains go one further than the previous effort and secure them a chance to shine in a AAA game?

Building anticipation

Considering the success James Gunn enjoyed with his two Guardians of the Galaxy movies for Marvel, it makes sense that anticipation has been building about what his DC outing – known simply as The Suicide Squad – will entail. The movie is listed for release next August and features a large cast of big names, with Margot Robbie returning to star alongside the likes of Idris Elba, Peter Capaldi, and Taika Waititi. GamesRadar.com recently revealed how producer Charles Roven told its sister publication Total Film that the movie has “everything in it”.

A strong showing at the box office might just be enough to get a Suicide Squad game project off the ground, although there are other reasons why such a title might work. For example, the likes of Harley Quinn, Deadshot, and Killer Croc featured in the hugely successful Arkham series of Batman games, so gamers are already familiar with them and may be keen to experience a title based around their adventures.

Furthermore, the Suicide Squad brand has effectively been used in other parts of gaming. For example, the original 2016 movie-inspired its own mobile game Suicide Squad: Special Ops, while some of the characters were also added to the handheld version of Injustice: Gods Among Us. The William Hill online casino also offers a slot game that features imagery and icons from the last movie as well.

An idea to revisit?

Considering Suicide Squad has found a way into both mobile gaming and the world of online slots, it seems strange that DC’s motley crew have not yet had their own standalone adventure in a major AAA title.

The recent leaks certainly suggest there was once some serious consideration about such a game, but for whatever reason, it was put on the backburner. Now, with a new film expected to hit cinemas next year, could it be the right time to revisit those plans?

It is possible that there may be proposals to release some form of tie-in game related to the movie, but it will be fascinating to see if any further thought is given to bringing a proper AAA Suicide Squad title to life.

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